04 Homo ludens

Games and Play

today: games and play the difference between games and play?

Games and Play

English = “to play a game” French = “on joue a un jeu” German = “man spielt ein Spiel”

Two ways to consider the relationship: (1) play includes games (2) games include play

Play Includes Games

Examples of play:

Manhunt (also a game) professional football match (also a game) kicking a ball round a park (probably a game) playing on a kids’ see-saw (a game?) two chimps chasing each other (a game?) child singing a nursery rhyme to herself (a game?)

‘Play’ is thus broader than ‘game’ (a formal kind of play)

Games as a Subset of Play

Games Include Play

Characteristics of games(from Week 1; remember Wittgenstein):

competitive rule-based skillful luck playful etc.

‘Game’ is broader than ‘play’ (one component of games)

Play as a Subset of Games

Blurred Boundaries

‘play’ and ‘game’ are related they share family resemblances characteristics of these concepts overlap use depends on context definition depends on your perspective neither is ‘better’ than the other

Any Questions?

Animal Play

Chimpanzee Diary: an example of animal play

Theories of Play

Johann Huizinga Dutch anthropologist and historian Homo Ludens (1938)

What is Play For?

play is widespread across cultures and species so what is play for?

e.g. sight = avoid obstacles, find food, etc e.g. hearing = communicate, avoid predators, etc

e.g. aggressive instinct = fight off rivals, protect young e.g. social instinct = form alliances, find mates, etc

so why did play evolve? some theories…

Explanations of Play

to discharge excess energy an outlet for harmful impulses (safety value) satisfies a need for relaxation (chill out) restores energy (recharge batteries) satisfies an innate ‘imitative instinct’ (e.g. fighting) trains the young (both physically and mentally) teaches physical and social restraint (learn limits)

to exercise physical and mental faculties (unused) indulges a desire to compete and dominate to fulfil wishes and desires boosts feelings of personal value (self-confidence)

Any Questions?

Exercise: What is Play For?

In your groups:

(i) Rank the different explanations of play which Huizinga provides according to how important they have been for human evolution and personal development;

(ii) think of an example of each from your own experience;

(iii) think of any additional explanations of play.

Huizinga on Play: Homo ludens

play is so important to humanity that: Homo sapiens = Homo ludens ludus = ‘game’ or ‘play’ (hence Ludo) Homo ludens = ‘playing man’ or ‘Man the Player’ or ‘Man the Gamer’ why does Huizinga think this?

Huizinga on Play

Huizinga: these theories all ask the wrong question assumption = play is for something else i.e. play has a function other than itself but what is play in itself? what does it mean for the player?

Aesthetics of Play

these accounts ignore the aesthetics of play two meanings of ‘aesthetic’:

(1) Ancient Greek: ‘perceived by the senses’ (scientific) e.g. how do we experience sight, hearing, taste, etc?

(2) 18th Century: ‘artistic taste’ (artistic) e.g. what makes a good piece of art, music, TV? e.g. why do we like certain films, plays, games?

Aesthetics of Play

mechanistic, biological accounts ignore: sensory element: how we experience play taste element: why we enjoy play

Huizinga: “So far so good, but what actually is the fun of playing? Why does the baby crow with pleasure? Why does the gambler lose himself in his passion? Why is a huge crowd roused to frenzy by a football match?”

Aesthetics of Play

to truly understand play we must look at: the intensity, the absorption, the fun of play you can’t provide a logical, mechanistic, biological explanation of fun

next week: ‘Pleasure, Pain and Play’

Play and Culture

play is a “primary category of life” common to many species and all cultures/civilizations play is integral to culture play and culture are intimately interwoven: language, law, war, knowledge, poetry, art, et al. for more, see Homo ludens (in library)

Any Questions?

Characteristics of Play

4 key elements of play:

(1) play is voluntary(2) play is outside ordinary life(3) play has fixed boundaries(4) play promotes social groups

(1) Play is Voluntary

you can’t force someone to play people play because they enjoy it must be free not to play play is superfluous: you never need to play never a task or duty done during leisure time: can be postponed/suspended

E.g. Noughts and Crosses

(2) Play is Outside Ordinary Life

(i) play is an unreal interlude in our lives: a temporary, separate sphere of activity

(ii) play is not serious: ‘only pretending’/‘only for fun’

(iii) play is absorbing: people take play seriously

(iv) play is external to material interests and biological needs: you don’t profit from play

E.g. Olympic Games: an interlude, unimportant, taken seriously, no reward

(3) Play has Fixed Boundaries

(i) boundaries of time: play begins and ends (duration)

(ii) boundaries of space: e.g. card table, board, screen

(iii) precise rules and order: deviation from the rules = play-world collapses, e.g. spoil sport

E.g. Football: 90 minutes in 2 halves, football pitch, strict rules of play

(4) Play Promotes Social Groups

(i) Social Groups. Sharing play = social bond: friendships, groups, clubs, clans, etc

(ii) Secrecy. Sense of belonging = ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’: members keep to themselves, e.g. computer gamers

(iii) Disguise. Players assume a disguise or mask: play a part, become someone else during play

E.g. Rugby team or chess club: group identity, clique, silly names/kit

SummaryHuizinga says that play is:“a free activity standing quite consciously outside ‘ordinary’ life as being ‘not serious’, but at the same time absorbing the player intensely and utterly. It is an activity connected with no material interest, and no profit can be gained by it. It proceeds within its own proper boundaries of time and space according to fixed rules and in an orderly manner. It promotes the formation of social groupings which tend to surround themselves with secrecy and to stress their difference from the common world by disguise or other means.” (p. 13)

Any Questions?

Exercise: Applying PlayIn your groups:

choose a digital game you have played, and analyse it in terms of Huizinga’s 4 characteristics of play nominate a spokesperson to present your account to the rest of the class (2 minutes)

consider the following questions: (1) does Huizinga’s account fit your digital game? (2) are Huizinga’s 4 characteristics elements of a definition, or family resemblances?

The Magic Circle

Huizinga’s understanding of play: ‘the magic circle’ play is an interlude outside ordinary life with fixed boundaries of time, space and rules

magic circle = game’s special context or ‘frame’ can be physical: e.g. pitch, board, screen can be psychological: e.g. arm wrestling, eye-spy

playing game = entering the magic circle you cross a boundary

The Magic Circle

why magic circle? an enchanted zone: special rules apply e.g. Chess inside and outside magic circle

magic circle: a safe area you can ‘fight’ and ‘kill’ people here (safely)

The Lusory Attitude

the magic circle from the player’s perspective deciding to play a game = choosing to enter the magic circle this requires a certain attitude or state of mind…

The Lusory Attitude

games are inefficient Huizinga = no material benefit actually a waste of energy

E.g. Boxing: soft gloves, limited rounds, etc inefficient ritual, unnecessary obstacles

The Lusory Attitude

accepting these conditions makes game play possible the players adopt a ‘lusory attitude’ (from ludus): agree to adopt this route to objective a contract between players adopt arbitrary, inefficient rules to enjoy the play

Any Questions?

The Game (1997)

The Game (1997) illustrates the magic circle and the lusory attitude

dir. David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club) Michael Douglas = Nicholas Van Orton self-centred, rich businessman, has everything

The Game (1997)

48th birthday present from brother (Sean Penn) prepaid game from Consumer Recreation Services “life changing experience” physical and psychological tests nature of game unclear integrated into normal life what is game and what is real?

Film Clip: The Game

clip is from early in the film…

The Magic Circle in The Game

increasingly confusing drama = disintegration of the magic circle no clearly defined boundary or frame airport: who is part of the game? enchanted zone and real world mesh

Lusory Attitude in The Game

Van Orton unsure of the boundaries of the magic circle can’t adopt a true lusory attitude (safety of circle) seems to be both inside and outside the magic circle what happens is frightening and disturbing because of his attitude/understanding

Gaming Journal

play: one or more games read: background reading, magic circle & lusory attitude describe: magic circle and lusory attitude apply: to your own gaming experience: ~ explain how you adopt a lusory attitude whilst playing your chosen game, and thus ~ how you enter into the magic circle

Further Reading

Games and Play: Salen and Zimmerman (2004, p. 70-83) Theories of Play: Huizinga (1970, Ch. 1); Sutton-Smith (2001); Stephenson (1988) Huizinga on Play: Huizinga (1970, Ch. 1); Salen and Zimmerman (2004, pp. 32, 75); Poole (2000, pp. 11-14, 165-66) Magic Circle & Lusory Attitude: Salen and Zimmerman (2004, pp. 76-77, 92-99); Huizinga (1970, Ch. 1); Sniderman (1999)